"What?" Dragon slammed the table, his face filled with disbelief.
"Is the message confirmed?"
"The message should be accurate."
Dragon's expression was extremely grim, and for a moment, he didn't know what to do.
…
On a route leading to Galzburg, a red pirate ship sailed swiftly.
"Defeated and arrested the Revolutionary Army's second-in-command and Luffy?"
Shanks received the news, his face gradually darkening.
"The arena match hasn't started yet, has it?"
"Captain, it hasn't started yet." Beckman replied.
"To cause such a stir so quickly, it seems Marine is impatient this time."
Shanks looked into the distance. "Accelerate, we need to get there as soon as possible… No, change course, we're heading to Fish-Man Island."
In the waters near Galzburg, Blackbeard's ship had also arrived.
"Captain, aren't we landing yet? The match is about to begin." Burgess said excitedly.
"No hurry, wait a bit longer." Blackbeard shook his head.
Upon hearing Teach's decision, all the Blackbeard Pirates members were puzzled. They didn't understand what Blackbeard was waiting for, as the plan was to cause a big stir during the match.
Shiryu, standing nearby, stared at Teach with cold eyes. He couldn't figure out this abnormal behavior either.
What no one knew was that Blackbeard's actions were precisely under Renji's command.
Unconditionally controlling someone's soul—this was something no one could guess or know.
Looking at the calm sea, the arena match was about to begin, and not many pirate ships were still arriving.
Renji immediately issued an order as the highest overall commander of this operation.
"Pass on my order: everyone retreat three nautical miles out and stand by."
After issuing the military order, Renji's figure disappeared. Within a few seconds, he had stepped onto the island filled with the smoke of war.
At the same time, the various fleets of the Marine and the World Government also received his order, telling them to stand by and not act rashly.
A sturdy man in a white suit stood at the bow of the ship, a pigeon perched on his shoulder.
Lucci said with a grim expression, "What does that guy mean? Now that all factions have landed on the island and the arena match is about to begin, he's telling us to stand by?"
Not long ago, the news that Renji had once again defeated Luffy and successfully arrested him had spread.
As soon as the news broke, it instantly invigorated the Marine. Moreover, Renji not only defeated Luffy but also captured Sabo, the Revolutionary Army's second-in-command, and Law, among others.
Such a battle record was simply unimaginable for ordinary people.
"He truly lives up to his reputation as the strongest Marine of the new era."
Next to Lucci, a man in work clothes with a rectangular nose said, "Isn't making such a big splash enough? Is he afraid we'll steal his credit? So he wants to lead Marine to land?"
"No, on the Marine side, our informants told me they also received Renji's order to stand by." Lucci's face gradually darkened, and many conjectures flashed through his mind.
But he could never be certain of Renji's true intentions.
Kaku was also stunned by the news and looked puzzled at the slender woman beside him. "Stussy, what do you think about this?"
"Hoo..."
Stussy's moist, alluring red lips parted slightly, exhaling rings of white smoke.
She said softly in a charming voice, "Of course I'm standing and watching."
"That's enough!" Lucci growled.
"How can you still be joking at a time like this? Be serious, Stussy, don't be so childish. You should know that our opponents this time are the Four Emperors and the Revolutionary Army. Whichever side it is, they pose the highest level of threat."
"Hoo, I'll ask Akainu." Lucci said, adjusting his emotions and dialing Akainu's Den Den Mushi.
Although he was reluctant to face him, the other party was the current Fleet Admiral, who had the most direct authority to deploy Renji.
The Den Den Mushi connected quickly.
Lucci spoke directly, "I am Rob Lucci. Regarding Renji's appointment as the overall commander of this operation, I suggest you choose someone else…"
After Lucci finished explaining, only an indifferent voice came from the other end of the Den Den Mushi.
"Are you telling me how to do my job?"
The Den Den Mushi then hung up, leaving Lucci looking awkward and disheveled in the wind.
Stussy, seeing him frustrated, tried to suppress her laughter and turned her face away.
Crack! Crack!
Lucci's fists clenched, cracking audibly, and his face became grim again.
"…I'll report to the Gorosei."
After a moment of silence, he still dialed the Gorosei's Den Den Mushi.
Purururu... Purururu...
As usual, it connected slowly, but this time, a rare look of impatience appeared on Lucci's face.
Finally, after two and a half minutes of the Den Den Mushi out its tongue, it connected.
"I am Rob Lucci, and I have an important matter to report…"
Immediately, Lucci recounted Renji's order to the Gorosei.
"It severely violates the original operational plan. I now highly doubt Akainu's ability to select personnel and suggest that Renji's appointment as the overall commander of this operation be immediately revoked."
After a moment of silence, Saturn's voice came from the other end of the Den Den Mushi.
"Do you know Renji's current actions?"
Upon hearing this, Lucci was surprised. "Can't you contact him directly?"
There was another moment of silence before Saturn finally spoke, "He blacklisted our contact information…"
He dared to blacklist the Gorosei?
Lucci's pupils contracted. He didn't understand. Even if this operation succeeded, Renji's actions would likely lead to his dismissal upon returning.
At the very least, his Admiral position would be suspended.
What exactly was he after?
In Geoise, the Gorosei were all bowing their heads.
On the supposedly empty Void Throne, a long, slender figure was seated.
"Although he arrested the Revolutionary Army's second-in-command, he is so uncontrollable that we will never allow him to continue his actions."
"Don't worry, Imu-sama."
"After this operation, we will dispatch the God's Knights to eliminate Renji."
…
No one answered, but the air in the hall gradually dropped to freezing point.
After a long while, Imu spoke, her voice eerily unpleasant, "You have five days to bring Renji before me. For every day over, one of you will cease to exist."
As Imu's words fell, the Gorosei all broke out in a cold sweat, their hearts trembling.
In all this time, it was the first time Imu had been so stern.